After putting their Caleb blindside on the back burner last week out of fear of upsetting Mark, Keeley and Faith weren’t about to let the same happen again. Even though the target changed half a dozen times, the ladies ultimately got their way, cutting one of Mark’s many connections in a delicious blindside, leaving the returnee with a familiar feeling.
But how did we get there? The episode begins with everyone anticipating a swap, with both tribes arriving at the reward challenge with their bags packed and shoes in hand. However, David throws a curveball when he gets straight to explaining the next challenge, a head-to-head ball tossing competition, with the winning tribe earning meat pies. The OG Bounty tribe ends up pulling out the win.
Of course, this is all subterfuge. Once the challenge is over, David tells the tribes to drop their buffs. It’s time to switch things up! Except, very little changes, other than some relocation. The majority of the old Bounty tribe swaps to Barren beach, with Simon, Jackson, Loz, Lottie, Aisha, Cameron joining OG Barrens Brooke, Blanche, and Ben. Meanwhile, Lyndl and Richard are the only OG Bounties on the new Bounty tribe, alongside former Barrens Mark, Faith, Keeley, Don, Caleb, Sally, and Tez.
On paper, the new tribes are a win for Mark. Other than losing his fellow returnee, Brooke, he’s with all his closest connections, including his Ruby Soho alliance partner Faith, his strong ally Keeley, his Corn Chip Cartel brothers Caleb and Don, and his lapdog, Tez. And he’s quick to bond with Lyndl and Richard to form a new majority alongside himself, Faith, and Keeley. The only person he doesn’t have a connection to is Sally.
The same can’t be said for Brooke, who finds herself without any of her allies on the new Barren tribe. She recognizes the danger immediately and even voices her concern to her new tribemates. And she’s right to be worried, seeing as Blanche is ready to turn on her, and Aisha is ready to welcome Blanche with open arms to take a swing at the big threat, Brooke.
But any plans to oust Brooke are put on hold for now as the Barren tribe wins a closely fought immunity challenge. Instead, it’s the Bounty tribe heading to tribal council, and it’s time for Faith and Keeley to put their money where their mouth is. They are tired of doing everything Mark wants, and so, they’re putting their feet down. The plan? Vote out Tez to remove one of Mark’s numbers.
While it’s not his ideal choice of target, Mark tells Faith and Keeley he’s on board with voting Tez out. He realises there needs to be some give and take, and he’s confident that he has enough connections that it won’t harm him to let Tez go at this stage. This way, he keeps his trust with the women and keeps his Corn Chip Cartel alliance alive with Don and Caleb.
It all seems so simple until Sally blows things up by getting way ahead of herself. Faith and Keeley have been building a bond with Sally, and in this episode, they lock in the “Three Wise Women” alliance. Having Sally on their side is a way for them to counter Mark and his numbers, and will be especially useful when they eventually take a crack at the returning player. For her part, Sally tells the ladies she’s “ready to start playing.”
Unfortunately, she plays a little too hard. Despite the Tez plan seemingly locked and loaded, she approaches Don to feel him out for a potential Mark blindside down the line. Don immediately runs this back to Mark, who tells him to gather more data (i.e., find out whether Faith and Keeley know about this brewing plan). It’s safe to say Faith and Keeley are caught off guard by both Don and Mark and Sally’s loose lips.
What should be a simple Tez vote then becomes about saving face. Mark and Don push the vote onto Sally, and Faith and Keeley agree because they’re backed into a corner. But as tribal approaches, the plan doesn’t sit well with Keeley. Once again, she sees the control slipping away and Mark getting his way. Does she let another vote fall out of her grip? Or does she do something bold to regain control?
Keeley goes for the bold option. While Caleb and Tez bicker back and forth at tribal about throwing out each other’s names, Keeley sets in motion a Don blindside. Live tribals are not uncommon these days, but it’s rare for a new plan to form mid-tribal and actually take shape in front of our eyes. Keeley whispers to Faith that she wants to switch the vote to Don; Faith then passes the message along to Richard and Lyndl. Keeley clues Sally in and, finally, brings aboard Tez for assurance.
And, she pulls it off! The whole tribe, sans Mark and Caleb, blindsides Don, sending the Donfather packing. Mark is left dumbfounded after being the sole vote against Sally. It’s a familiar feeling for Mark, who experienced the rug being pulled out from under him numerous times on his original season. And honestly, it’s his own doing. He’s gotten so used to getting his way this season that he’s become cocky, which has blinded him to the moves his own allies are plotting behind his back.
The question now is, how will Mark recover? Will this be another teachable moment for him to learn to adapt? Or will he go full scorched earth? Time will tell!
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